Editorials

On the evening of Monday, June 22nd, a solar disturbance generated a geomagnetic storm, which resulted in a fabulous display of the Northern Lights in The County. In fact, some said it was the best show in a decade.

Plans are well underway for our family reunion in July. We designated a small committee to organize things and send out invitations. I was surprised that all but six went out electronically, either thru Facebook or email. Things have certainly changed since the last big one.

Recently, I gave a talk to several classes at Easton Elementary School, having to do with a weather topic which, unfortunately, does not get enough attention in our elementary schools. The topic? How to *avoid* deadly weather hazards! These include lightning, flooding and, in winter, whiteouts. It is far more likely that you will one day be in harm’s way from one of these hazards, than you will be in harm’s way from dangerous winds, which is not to say that powerful winds are not a dangerous hazard, it is just that you will tend to encounter the threat from the first three more frequently here in The County.

Several years ago the Maine Legislature established a Commission to investigate why nursing homes had closed in the towns of Calais, Lubec and Pittsfield. I was a member of this bi-partisan effort. What was discovered is that the meager increases provided for caring for MaineCare clients by the King and Baldacci administrations had led to an industry on the verge of financial collapse.

This month, U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro accepted my invitation to travel to Maine to see firsthand how organizations in our state tackle the very important issue of runaway and youth homelessness. I have worked closely with Secretary Castro on a number of issues, and he has been a willing and eager partner in our work together to prevent and end youth homelessness nationwide.

Maine’s Second District is home to the hardest-working, most honest people that you could ever find in this country.